Major Impacts

Today at The Crossing we were talking about people who have made impacts in our lives, and I thought I would just mention some of mine to you. In My life there have been some certain individuals that have had a major impact on my life. My top 5 include...


5. Bob Bilinski- Mr. Bilinski was my 7th grade Social Studies teacher and my freshman year basketball coach. He is an incredible person who always puts others before himself and I will always remember the huge impact that he made on my life.


4. Peggy Bearss- One of my 2nd moms growing up - Peggy has been a great spiritual role model in my life. She is a bold woman in Christ and always puts the Lord first in everything that she does. She is someone who always encourages me to seek Christ daily.


3. NMC- There is no way in the world that I could just point out 1 individual person from NMC that has impacted my life so I just put the whole Church.
Small group leaders- Marty Graverson, A. J. Moldanado, Brad Fishburn, Jordan Bender, Ryan Jarel, and Andy Brown.
Soar interns, Interns or Summer Leaders- Josh Sabo, Mike Couse, Aaron Zehr, Alison Gingrich, and Jared "Peels' Gregory, Tom "The Tom" Carpenter.
Sunday School Teachers- Jack Lengacher Jr, James Ellis, Greg Raneous, Adam Cramer, Ted Gerring, Wendall and Angie Troyer, George and Julie Weigand, and Keith and Rhonda Klotz.
Pastors- Derry Prenkert, Jason Thompson, Chris Lehane, Jeremiah Lauber, Terry Bley, Marvin Engbrecht, and Dave Engbrecht.
And those I couldn't think of a label for (hehe)- Jeff Simpson, Dustin Gill, Terry Linhart, Katie Carl, Kristy Mikel, Neil Deiner, Neil Yoder, Randy and Andy Mitschlen, and Taylor Fervida's Beard.


2. Todd and Sheila Eby (Parents)- I'm sorry if that bugs you but my parents come as a package deal. My dad is the hardest working person I know. He would do anything absolutely anything to support our family. He sacrifices so much and rarely ever gets his name recognized for how much he really does. My mom is a Godly woman who always puts Christ first. She loves to laugh and make others laugh. I truly believe that many lives will be changed by the life lived by Sheila Eby.


1. Everett Eby- My great-grandpa Everett Eby was one of the most Godly men I ever met in my entire life and I am sure that many would support my belief. It was by his example that I caught a passion for Christ and wanted to be like him - living for Christ passionately and daily. Never did a day go by where that man wouldn't be praising God. My great-grandpa will always and forever be my Hero, and my favorite verse Jeremiah 29:13 was inspired by him.

BLOG POLL #2

Here is another blog poll for ya! Today at internship, Jordan Schrock (Nut) stopped by for a visit. He decided to inform me that Monster is the best energy drink out on the market. Don't worry, I quickly let him know that he was wrong! (ha ha!) We all know that Amp is by far the best energy drink out there, but just to be sure I put out Blog Poll #2. So in 6 short days Amp will be crowned champion.

World Day! Please Pray for the Konda Dhora of India

Unreached People of the Day

Please pray for the ...
Konda Dhora of India
Population:
285,000
Language:
Telugu
Religion:
Hinduism
Evangelical:
0.00%
Status:
Unreached (1.2 ) More ...
Provided by Joshua Project

The Ducks Draw Even!

For the last couple of months, I have been playing in a bunch of pick up basketball games with a team known as the Ducks. We are basically NorthWood's basketball team of "quitters" or "not good enoughs". On the team is Chaz Bellman, Robby Bearss, John Tice, Robby Burns, Mike Griggs, and myself, along with the two late additions of Marty Graverson and Craig Helfrich. We had played a couple of home school teams at the Tolsen Center for a while just to play, but now we are officially in a league at the Elkhart Sports Center. Our first game was last Monday and we played against basically all of the old Northridge players. At one time they were up by 20 but the final score ending up being 58-54. The 22 to 6 run just wasn't enough for the Ducks to get their first victory. Last night we had our second game and the Ducks were ready to quack as they stormed past the competition 80-45. We have drawn to a 1-1 record and look to quack really loudly in the rest of the season.

Home Alone!

From Thursday night to last night my friend Robby Bearss was home alone. He and I spent almost every night together watching movies, Lost, in the H-Tub, playing video games, or just talking. It was a lot of fun, but it is weird to think that "Home Alone" isn't to far off from being a reality. It is going to be weird to be on my own at college this upcoming fall, but at the same time I am extremely excited.

Pastor Chris 2 For 2

On Sunday, Pastor Chris Knight brought the message and let me just say that I love when this man speaks. He spoke on 2 Peter 1:3 and the importance of "Doing Something" in your faith. The Lord used his message and brought some incredible encouragement to my heart. He gave an illustration about being a basketball coach and having this player with all of the right skills and abilities to be one of the best. But he would just stand under the basket and not do anything. It was a great message for me to hear. We are truly blessed with the pastoral staff we have at NMC. Great Job Chris!

Derry Prenkert: A Message from the Bizman#links#links

Derry Prenkert: A Message from the Bizman#links#links

Kenya (WOO HOO WASN'T THAT THE MOST INCREDIBLE NIGHT EVER) Night

So Wednesday was one of the most memorable and remarkable nights in my 6 years of attending NMC. Watching Kenya Night being revealed was incredible - it was like God took what was in our hand and multiplied it times ten! My prayer for the night was that it would be a success, not in our eyes but in God's. It has been so awesome to see how the night came together from a little meeting that took place a couple of months ago. All of the help and support is greatly appreciated. Thank you students who helped with bake sale, silent auction, talent show, decoration, greeting, and set up. Thank you parents who took time to look at the auction items and bid crazy amounts of money of them. Thank you Biz for sending a video and letting us come behind your ministry. Thank you Jamie and Jolinda for speaking on behalf of the baby center. Thank you congregation for coming behind us students and fully supporting and taking what was in your hand and making this night into an awesome success. There will be more Post-Kenya Night info coming your way including the latest updates on auction items and more with later posts. Thanks again - let's continue to strive forward in pursuit of an awesome God who is constantly doing awesome things.

Frontstreet Boys 3 - Larger Than Life

Here it is! The 3rd and Final Installment of the Frontstreet Boys legacy!! Premiering for the first time last night at "Kenya Night"! Thanks for the memories!

Ken Ya Feel It??

So I know I haven't posted for a while and it is mainly due to the craziness dealing with Kenya Night. Kenya Night has been going really great and it is so exciting to see how this thing is really coming together. On Sunday Derry nailed with his "What's that in your hand," message. Explaining that maybe the talents and abilities that we have could be used for something bigger than ourselves. It was a great message and a great challenge leading up to Kenya Night. It's so crazy to think that the night is just one day away and that all of the preperation will be put into action. But most importantly it is extremely valuable for us to remember the Why? in Kenya Night. We have been called as Christ followers to lay down our lives for our friends and brothers. We have been called to be living sacrifices. We are also commisioned to go and preach the Good News to all of creation. This is going to be such an awesome night but what if it's more than a night? What if it's a movement? In the two ministries, our Church, the youth, our hearts, who knows?

4 Mile Prayer?

I love to run! Call me crazy, but there is just something in running that excites yet challenges me at the same time. The incredible pain that comes from being out of shape, yet the joy that follows when you finish and get to just lay on the floor. I also believe that there is a deeper level to running than just running. So the other day I was going for a four mile run, and as I started to run I was reminded of the scripture in Hebrews (Hebrews 12:1) "Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." I felt really challenged to try something a little different on this run. So I began to do just that; confess and repent of the things that were hindering me and entangling me from fully seeking after Christ daily. I also wanted my mind and heart to be totally clear of the distractions that were surrounding me. So I looked past me being out of shape, the dogs that chased me, the wind that was plastering me, and my legs which were dying on me and strived to just focus in on Christ. Life is a like a 4 mile run. Hard, enduring, challenging, full of pains and aches, full of "barking dogs", and "plastering winds." All going against you saying you can't do it. But when you put all those things aside and fully focus and seek after the heart of Christ you will finish the race that God has planned for you.

Frontstreet Boys Part 2

Frontstreet Boys

Here is the Original!

Is This The End?

Last night we filmed what is to be our final "Frontstreet" video. It started with "I Want it that Way", then it was "Drowning". The newest addition will not be revealed until "Kenya Night" on February 20th. It is expected to be the best yet! It's sad to think that its over! I know we were just a group of weirdos from NMC, but it was cool cause it brought us together and it was a great ministry. Maybe it's not the end - who knows??? But whether it is or not, it was a great run and its going to be exciting to look back on these videos when we are older.

So Why are you blogging??

It's pretty easy to see why most people blog. I have discovered that it is a lot of fun. But I have to wonder, what is the real reason behind why I blog? I used to give Derry a hard time about it! (Sorry man) so I have been pondering what was the real reason behind me making the jump into the blogging world. I love to think, ponder, and visionize. I don't even know if that's a word but I like to do it! So I thought that I could make use of these things by setting up a blog to honor and glorify God through my thoughts, pondering, and visioning. It's a great way to lay out what God has been doing in my life and been challenging me with daily. It's been fun and I hope that it will only continue.

T.A.W.G.

So last night we continued our way through the T.A.W.G. series as Pastor Derry led us through some different elements of how our time alone could be spent with Christ. He also directed us to look at some different passages of scripture and I found myself indulging in John 15:9-17. In this passage verse 16 really caught my attention it says: You did not choose me, but I chose you! And that really challenged me. God values us more than we could ever imagine. I mean He Chose Us and he clearly didn't have to. He chose each of us for a specific purpose, and reason to advance His Kingdom and glorify His name. By reading this I was just really challenged and it led me to write this poem.

You Chose me?

You chose me?
I don't understand
Why did you create me
In your precious hands?
Father I'm weak
And always fall down
You will be disappointed
You will probably frown


God it's only me!
I'm not special at all
And even if you pick me up
I'm just again going to fall


But you choose to say different
You chose to make me
You have never let go
Which I can not believe


God I'm going to do it
Be the person you want me to be
It's gonna only get tougher
But I smile cause I know you chose me!

Today is another world day! And the focus is on Kenya Night which is coming very quickly. Kenya Night, as most of you probably already know, is February 20th and is a night devoted to raise financial and prayer support, and awareness for the country of Kenya. We are supporting two organizations on Kenya Night. One being the AGC Abandoned Baby Center, and the other being the Maasai Project. NMC, for the past several months has sent numerous teams to the baby center to help care for the abandoned babies in Kenya. The Maasai project is led up by a missionary by the name of Caleb Bislow. Caleb and his team are returning to the Maasai tribe for the 3rd time to send out missionaries to the lost villages of the Maasai hoping that one day all of these Maasai villages are reached with the Gospel. We are placing this night in the Lord's hands hoping we can make a difference in a country that is halfway across the globe.

The "little" GIANTS, Super Bowl XLII Giants 17 Patriots 14

And there you have it! Super Bowl 42 goes to the New York Giants! Living out the impossible dream by starting off the season 0-2 then coming through by winning 6 straight games in the regular season and winning at Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay in the playoffs. Then topping that all off with a 17-14 upset win over the undeafeated New England Patriots (Or should I say 18-1 Patriots which still makes the 72' Dolphins the ONLY TRUE UNDEFEATED TEAM IN NFL HISTORY!!!) I find it very ironic that this Giants team that everyone underestimated rises in the end like in the movie "The Little Giants" and comes out winners. There was no fluke here, this was well earned and deserved. So now the question is no longer Peyton or Brady its Eli or Brady!

No Points Were "Shaved" here!!!

And the winner is.......you guessed it Taylor Fervida's Beard! The thing is just unstoppable! I love it and it should definetely run for president next year! My first official blog poll was exciting and very close but in the end the "Beard" did its business and took my first ever blog poll title. More blog polls are to come in the near future but for now I'll just stick with some posts.

I'm So "Lost"!!!

Last night the season premiere of "Lost" Season 4 was on and my friend Robby Bearss; who is now pretty much addicted, had to watch it, so I sat down and watched it with him. Now a while back, Derry had given me Season 1, so I could start catching up, but I had just never got around to it. I didn't really want to start off by seeing the newest season when I knew I wasn't going to understand anything that was going on. But the show last night was two hours and the whole first hour was about the first three seasons so it caught me up. So after it got done, I went home and popped in Season 1 until like 1 this morning and when I woke up and saw we didn't have any school....you bet I started watching it again. I'm hooked and I love it.